Internet Trends for 08

Catching up on RSS feeds, I noticed this post from Guy Kawasaki regarding Merrill Lynch’s new Internet trends report for 2008. Apart from the good news regarding the bump in Internet ad spending and the obvious push towards mobile initiatives, the most important news for many players in this market are the improvements in display advertising targeting techniques and how they will affect spend in the new year. This is especially evident with the major portal players as the shift from portal visitation to social networks and other niche content sites becomes larger in the coming year. Focusing on spatial shifts, it’s more important than ever for the major portals to be smart in their build/buy decisions, and speed to market is paramount as competition increases. Niche sites continue to gain relevance, steal share and personnel from the portals. Will it be death by 1,000 cuts or will the market balance to accommodate all players? It will be interesting to see what happens. Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments.

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